Fire damages Monroe Food Center

MONROE The Frenchtown Fire Department marshals and Monroe police are investigating a fire that caused extensive damage to the interior of the Monroe Food Center early Monday.

A Monroe police officer on patrol saw smoke at the store, 1104 East Fourth St., about 9:20 a.m. and alerted the Monroe Fire Department, police said.

About the same time, the store owner, who was inside the structure, saw flames in the store. He and his wife, who apparently was the only other person inside, had escaped unhurt, officers said. They did not release the couple s names early Monday afternoon.

When the officer saw smoke coming from the store, he spotted several people nearby, police said. Officers did not say whether those people were detained.

The owner told investigators the store was open at the time but no customers were inside so he decided to walk back to his office. That s when he heard a suspicious noise and saw flames in the store, near the entrance, police said.

Officers are asking anyone with information about the incident to call the detective bureau at 1-734-243-7519.